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EASY STEPS FOR CHOOSING AND SIZING THE RIGHT
VENTILATION FAN FOR YOUR HOME.
Determine which rooms could use ventilation, and how much is needed. Spot ventilation is used in localized
areas to remove moisture, odor and airborne pollutants quickly. Most commonly used in the bath or powder
room, spot ventilation can also be used in a laundry room, exercise area, closet, or bedroom, wherever air
should be changed frequently. Decorative and recessed models can be ideal solutions for these situations.
According to the Home Ventilating Institute (HVI), Air Changes per Hour (ACH) for comfortable and healthy living
should be as follows: Bathrooms: 8 changes, Kitchens: 15 changes, Living/Bedrooms: 6 changes. Broan bath
fans, utility fans and high capacity fans can meet these needs.
Calculate the air movement necessary for proper
ventilation. Air movement is measured in Cubic Feet
per Minute (CFM). To determine CFM requirements,
first determine the size of your room. Measure and
multiply the length, width and ceiling height of your
room to determine cubic footage. Then use the
multiplication factor of .13 and round up to the next
“ten.” See the three examples that follow.
Example 1:
Bathroom with 8' ceiling:
7' wide x 9' long x 8' high x .13 = 66. Select a bath fan
with at least 70 CFM
Example 2:
Bathroom with 9' ceiling: 10' wide x 9' long x 9' high x
.13 = 105. Select a bath fan with at least 110 CFM
Example 3:
For a bathroom with a vaulted ceiling, use the average
ceiling height at the wall and the peak:8' wide x 12' long
x ((8' at wall + 12' at peak) / 2 = 10') average height x
.13 = 125. Select a fan(s) with at least 130 CFM
Account for long duct runs and ductwork that turns
before it reaches the exterior vent. When airflow is
restricted in any way it slows down. Just as a car
must slow down for a sharp corner, air decelerates
when going through a turn in a duct run. Whenever
possible, create a straight duct run with large radius
turns, if they’re necessary at all. Rigid ductwork is
optimal because airflow restriction is minimized.
Flexible tubing may be convenient to install, but
resistance is created as air is moved over the spiral
metal frame of the tubing. With long duct runs or
ducts with multiple turns the fan works harder, noise
increases and fan performance (CFM) is
compromised. Select a fan model with an even
greater CFM rating to compensate.
6" ducting overcomes most performance-related
installation issues. Broan’s ULTRA and QTX Green
Series fans deliver high performance in virtually any
real-world installation. They are engineered with a 6"
duct connector for peak air movement and extremely
quiet operation, even when the duct run is not short
and straight.
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